Skepticism

EVENTS

Let it be the start of an avalanche

The Texas Freethought Convention last month was a hoot, but the 2012 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne in April promises to be even bigger and more fierce. The Australians are warming up already — they’ve broadcast a story on the Texas event, playing up our opposition to the follies of faith in a state led by that foolish goon, Rick Perry. I’m in it briefly (Hi, Mom!), but the bulk of the footage is dedicated to Christopher Hitchens, and rightly so.

In other news, it’s a good thing no one’s unemployed or that the country isn’t facing serious problems because the House is using its valuable time to vote on reaffirming our national motto “In God We Trust.”

PZ, you have got to be part of the 1%. At least when it comes to your contribution to green house gases. You have an enormous footprint with the tens of thousands of miles you rack up each year flying to useless conventions. When will you say enough is enough?

No Australia, but DC definitely. Just followed the link, and they were asking for volunteers, I’ll see if I get picked. Since I have to be in DC every day anyway, I might as well see if I can do something to help.

PZ, you have got to be part of the 1%. At least when it comes to your contribution to green house gases. You have an enormous footprint with the tens of thousands of miles you rack up each year flying to useless conventions. When will you say enough is enough?

How about pushing your publisher to have a few advance copies of your book available in Melbourne next year? Actually, you might need a lot of copies.

I’m looking forward to Melbourne. I’ve got my gold pass, I’ve got the hotel reservation booked, I’ve even got the airfare paid for (and the website wouldn’t allow me to complete the booking until I paid the ‘carbon offset’ charge, so I don’t think I’m causing any environmental damage, or at least, not much). The flight to Melbourne is leaving so late in the morning, I think that I will be able to actually use public transport to the airport instead of driving as I usually do.

I have asked about PZ’s greenhouse gas policy a few times and never get a response. Shouldn’t he have a policy of buying carbon offsets when he travels? I think we deserve to know how many miles he flies and if he is paying to mitigate his impact.

Cool!, I live only 5 or so hours away and could probably crash at my brothers place not far from DC. I just have to get the time off from work at the post office (if I still have a job come March). It would be great to hear Dawkins and PZ speak and actually meet some of the folks whose comments I read all the time. I hope a large contingent of the horde can make it!